Tag Archive | "fundraiser"

With Christmas songs playing in the background and holiday decorations on every table, 250 people shopped at the Pine Ridge Bible Camp’s 11th annual auction, held at Cedar Springs High School on November 8. A beautiful display of free Hors d’oeuvres and slices of layer cake added to the festive atmosphere, and shoppers tried to outbid each other during the silent and live auction.

Director Kevin Grifhorst spoke halfway through the live auction and read portions of letters describing what going to Pine Ridge Bible Camp means to children and their families. Bidders were given the opportunity to contribute towards scholarships for children. In a matter of minutes, over $7,000 was raised to help send children in need to camp.

In just one evening, 380 items were sold to raise a record-breaking $25,500. Then, an anonymous donor matched that amount and doubled it to $51,000. With $14,000 set aside for the camp scholarships, the rest will be used to help finish the lower level of the VerLee Dining Hall & Retreat Center at Pine Ridge Bible Camp.

The Friends of the Cedar Springs Public Library had their Quilt Show Fund Raiser on Jan. 25. Woman’s Life, Cedar Springs Chapter 841 came alongside with a matching fund offer of up to $500. The matching funds were raised, and Dena Wever, Vice President of Woman’s Life, Cedar Springs Chapter 841, presented the check to the Friends of the Library on March 18.

According to Library Director Donna Clark, the $1000 raised with Woman’s Life has been put in the Friends New Library Building Fund.

Woman’s Life is currently working with other Cedar Springs non-profit groups as well. Their motto states, “Connection.Community.Cause.” For more information on what’s happening in Chapter 841 or to see how your group can get matching

Cedar Springs High School hosted the one and only fundraiser of the year for En Gedi youth center Friday, March 21, and people in the community responded both with their presence and with their pocketbooks.

Approximately 150 people attended this year’s big event, which included a silent auction with over 145 items, and 10 bigger items were in the live auction. A money machine and dice game allowed the guests to have some fun. The excitement continued while enjoying the delicious appetizers.

According to Sue Wolfe, the goal for the auction was to make $12,500, to maximize the matching gift from CS Manufacturing. They surpassed that goal by $5,000. Kevin Pike, Co-Chair of the event, reported earnings of $17,794 from the auction, ticket sales, and raffles, plus the $12,500 match from C S Manufacturing, which brought them to $30,294.00 earned for En Gedi in one night.

Guests enjoyed an array of delicious appetizers.

“The En Gedi Team is grateful to our community who graciously donated the items and then to our attendees who generously gave,” said Pike. “We know they saw it as more than as a donation for an item, but as a lasting investment in our people’s lives.”

Wolfe was excited to see they exceeded their goal. “Our annual budget is $28,000 so this will allow us to expand on our high school programs and special events,” she explained.

Five dedicated community volunteers put their heads, needles, and thread together for over 40 hours to make a beautiful quilt for the Sand Lake/Nelson Township Library to use as a fundraiser.

The quilt was pieced together by Sharon Hula, Sharon Jones, Lois Williams and Janet Boezwinkle. Long arm quilting was done by Quilting by Carol of Rockford Michigan. This quilt demonstrates the passion these volunteers have for the library and its services.

“We hope that the community likes it as much as we do,” says Glenda Middleton, Library Branch Manager. “These women decided to offer it to the library as a way to raise money for the many services and operations we offer. The colors are so vibrant and cheerful that I imagine many people will love it.”

The quilt is a perfect-sized couch quilt at 68 x 110 inches. It is extra long and great for a nap or comfortable enough for two to stay warm and read a good book (from your library). The value of the quilt is $285.00.

Tickets are available for a suggested donation of $1 each or 6 for $5 at the library, 88 Eighth Street, Sand Lake. The drawing will be held December 21st at 3 p.m. at the library. Need not be present to win.

For more information, contact the KDL Sand Lake/Nelson Library at (616) 784-2007 or visit www.kdl.org.

As winter weather approaches, West Michigan Ski Patrols gear up for the largest ski swap fundraiser in the state of Michigan. The 42nd annual ski/snowboard swap and equipment sale will take place November 8, 9 and 10 at Cannonsburg Ski Area located at 6800 Cannonsburg Road, Belmont, Michigan, 49306.

The 42nd annual sale is a fundraiser to benefit the nonprofit ski patrols of West Michigan, including the Cannonsburg Ski Patrol, Pando Ski Patrol, and the West Michigan Nordic Ski Patrol. Commissions earned from the sale go to purchase first aid supplies and life-saving equipment used to evacuate injured guests in the event of an accident or emergency. Ski Patrols do not charge for emergency care, are volunteers, and no funding from county or community.

There will be thousands of pieces of new and gently used equipment at bargain prices. Clothes, downhill skis, snowboards, cross country skis, boots, coats, hats, gloves, and accessories for all winter activities will be available on a first come first serve basis. Doors are open to the public Friday November 8 and Saturday November 9 from 10:00a.m.-9:00 p.m. and on Sunday November 10 from 11:00 am.-2:00 p.m. (Please Note: There will be no sale on Thursday November 7.)

Check in for items to be entered in this year’s swap will take place at Cannonsburg Ski Area November 4, 5 and 6 from 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. The cost to enter items in the sale is $2 per 10 items with a 25 percent commission going to the ski patrol for each item sold. The ski swap does not accept straight skis, older bindings or damaged equipment.

For more information about the swap, please contact Kevin Barrons at (616) 293 5717 or by e-mail kabarrons@comcast.net.

Even an overcast morning with a few sprinkles did not keep the 58 registered auto buffs from bringing their vintage wheels to Morley Park last Saturday, July 27, according to Cedar Springs Historical Museum Director Sharon Jett. The annual car show each summer is one of the museum’s biggest fundraisers.

Historical Society President Fred Gunnell, welcomed me to the show and Sally Grayvold wanted to make sure I got my name in the bucket for the 50/50 drawing, which was won by Darwin Spear of Grand Haven.

There was a good mix of vehicles to look at as you walked the line. Some looked mint-out-of-the-box such as Phil Harrison’s 1957 Chevy, while others were works in progress. There were sports cars, family sedans and pickup trucks. Some were stock and others were modified like Gene Nielsen’s 1935 Ford pickup he had been working on for the last 3-1/2 years. Carl Anderson had it in his barn for a number of years before Gene picked it up and started work on it.

One gentleman had a pair of 1940’s era military jeeps. One painted Army olive drab with a pedestal mount machine gun and the other in Air Force blue. Both had trailers and were in better shape than my jeep was in the 101st Airborne Division back in the 1970s.

Music by the Patin Sisters, Pat and RoseAnne, drifted through the air along with the aroma of grilled hot dogs provided by the Cedar Springs FFA.

A big thank you to all the sponsors who helped make the fundraiser a success!

These sixth graders at En-Gedi are just some of the kids that benefit from your fundraising dollars that help this free youth center.

The En-Gedi Fundraiser Auction held on May 17 was an overwhelming success! With generous donations from many people and businesses in the community, a total of almost $22,000 was earned. The event offered appetizers for attending guests as they surveyed the numerous items on the silent auction tables and the 13 items slated for the live auction.

Art Smith generated a lot of excitement and enthusiasm for En-Gedi’s mission to serve the youth of our community through a free after school youth center, along with special events throughout the year. En-Gedi’s vision of working together with organizations already in place to help students make positive life choices and believing that our community will be “Better Together” was easy to support. C.S. Manufacturing committed to matching all funds earned up to $10,000.

“On behalf of the students and families who are benefiting from En-Gedi’s services, we would like to thank everyone who so generously gave to this special event. Our hearts are filled with joy and gratitude with your kind support. Please know you are helping to make a positive difference,” said Kevin Pike, Auction Co-Chair and En-Gedi Board Member.

Cedar Springs High School is hosting a free electronics recycling event at the school Tuesday, May 28 from 10 am to 6 pm, Wednesday, May 29 from 8 am to 6pm, and Thursday, May 30 from 8 am to 3 pm. Look for the Comprenew e-Drop trailer in the school parking lot. Acceptable items include office & household electronics (cell phones, radios, microwaves, VCRs, TVs), computer components & accessories. Almost anything with a cord or battery will be accepted. Comprenew will wipe or destroy all computer hard drives. No big box appliances, air conditioners or refrigerators. Proceeds from the recycling event will benefit Cedar Springs High School.

The Cedar Springs Fire Department is having a spaghetti dinner at Big Boy on Wednesday, April 10, to raise money to help restore its antique Model A fire engine. The 1929 engine is used for special events such as parades and community events, usually with the Keystone Kops at the helm.

Dinner tickets are $10 for adults, and $6 for children, and are available at Big Boy or from any Cedar Springs Firefighter. You can also call the station at 696-1221 and leave a message.

Students at Cedar View presented Special Olympics with a check for $948 Monday. From left to right: Special education teacher Chris Leslie, fifth grade students Marissa Whitney, Sierra Hess, and Mae Larsen, Special Olympics representative Diane House, and Independent Bank representative Julie Wheeler. Post photo by J. Reed.

Special Olympics benefit from fundraiser

By Judy Reed

Three Cedar View students with a heart for sharing, plus 480 students who helped support the cause, equals a generous donation to Special Olympics.

When fifth grade students Marissa Whitney, Sierra Hess, and Mae Larsen decided they wanted to do a fundraiser, they chose something that kids at their own school could benefit from—Special Olympics.

“These girls worked so hard,” said special education teacher Chris Leslie. She explained that funding from Special Olympics is the only way that some of the students in her class get to participate in certain athletic activities.

The three girls urged fellow students to bring in their change, each day on the morning announcements, for about a month. “We told them there would be a treat [for the winning classes], but told them we wanted them to do it because it would help people,” explained Marissa.

In the end, the two classes whose bins weighed the most were Mr. Moleski’s fourth grade class, and Mrs. Cairy’s fifth grade class. Each class got popsicles as a special treat.

The change was taken to Independent Bank, where employees rolled it—all $948.85 worth of it.

Fourth and fifth grade classes gathered on the lawn Monday morning, as the three girls presented Diane House, from Special Olympics, with the check. House was grateful to the girls for their hard work. “This will go to fund special events across Kent County, including here,” she explained.